Barrel-washing machine.



C. B. VAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 1914.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. B. VAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPHCATION FILED OCT. 3, i914.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

C. B. VAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3, 1914.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m. V 6 r m Patented Oct. 23,1917.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4 C. 8. VAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATIOH FILED OCT- 3| 1914. 1344,3592.

C. B. VAN HORN.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED OCT. 3. 1914.

1,244,392. Patented Oct. 23,1917.

5 SHEETS SHEET 5.

nine.

CHARLES B. VAN HORN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA..

BARREL-WASHING MACHINE.

neensae.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23,1917.

' Original application filed. July 24, 1913, Serial No. 780,975. Divided and this application filed October 3,

1914. Serial N0. 864,830.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHAuLEs B. VAN

l-loniv, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,v

have invented new and useful Improvements in Barrel-Hashing Machines, of whlch the following is a specification.

M invention relates to an a )aratus for the washing of barrels, kegs,-and-s1m1lar containers, and more particularly adapted for use with beer kegs which must be riage receiving the same from a suitable runway and transferring them successively to various points in the apparatus where they will receive, first, an internal and ex ternal washing with hot water; second, an external scrubbing, and third, an internal washing with cold water. The operation of the apparatus is carried on automatically by means of suitable gearing and a cam element driven from a single power shaft which constantly rotates in one direction. My invention includesfurther a brush carrying frame which is lowered simultaneously with the downward movement of the conveying carrier; the barrels being left at some distance above the level of said carrier so as to engage the brushes when the frame carrying said brushes is in the lower position.

The claims of the present application relate particularly to the scrubbingmechanism hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure- 1 is a side elevation of a barrel machine having and containing the improvements forming the subject of my invention;

Fig. 2

same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, showing the mechanism in one posit1on. I

is a sectional plan view of the Fig. l is a similar sectional view showingthe mechanism in another position. I

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the machine.

, Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the double cam gear of the drive gearing.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view thereof. Figs. 8, 9 and, 10 are enlarged views illustrating details of my invention.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic View of a train of drive gearing. a

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the means for adjusting the bilge brushes.

In the accompanying drawings, 1, 1 represent the side frames which serve as sup-- porting means for thevarious parts of the structure, and 21s an auxiliary frame in which are formed bearings or journals 3 for the several shafts transmitting the de'-' sired movements to the various parts of the machine.

The main driving shaft to which suitable power may be applied, is indicated at 5, and carries a pinion 6', meshing with a pinion 7, mounted upon a suitable stud or spindle 8, carried by the frame 1, which I pinion 7 in turn drivesa gear wheel 9 on a shaft 10 disposed below the shaft .5 and extending across the machine; the opposite end of said shaft being provided with a gear wheel 11 for a purpose hereinafter described. a pinion 12 meshing with a gear wheel l3 loose on the shaft 5, and driven with said gear wheel 13 is a pinion 14 driving a gear wheel 15 mounted on a short shaft or'spindle 16 journaled on the frame 2, with which gear wheel 15 is combined, preferably integral therewith, a pair of cammingelements 16 and 16*, which camming elements operate certain portions of the apparatus in a manner hereinafter described.

The pinion 6 may serve to drive two trains of gears comprising pinions 17, 18,

19, 20, 21, e2, 23, 24, 25, 26, '27 and 28, ex-

Driven with the gear wheel 9 is 7 tending in one direction from said pinion w 6, and pinions 7, 29, 30, 31,32, 33, 3 1 and 35, extending in the opposite direction from said pinion 6. Similar trains of gears are disposed at the opposite side of the frame which are driven from a pinion 6 in mesh with. the gear wheel 11 on the opposite end a of the shaft 10.

Disposed within the side frames is a slid ing barrel carrier +20, which in addition to its sliding illiiflcllhiilt has a lifting .niovenient inn .0 so that barrels or kegs positionet on the some may be shifted from one point to another through the machine to pen it the desired cleansing opera.- tions thereon. This barrel carrier rests upon. rollers 41 a fix] carried at the ends of arms -l2 on rock shafts ant said rock shafts being connected together so that movement imparted to one Will be transmitted to. the other. W hen in the raised position, the car-- rier is moved forwardly by an. arm or, bar 46 having a roller d-Tat oneend engaging the end of said carrier; said erinheving rack teeth on its underside whereby it may be moved bacl: and forth by agear Wheel e8 meshing therewith.

Pivoted at 50 to the rear end oi the slid- 0 ing carrier s0, is a barrel lifting device'coinprising a lever-like structure 51 ac opted to receive a barrel from a suitable rurmay, (not shown), and'inoveinent being impart.- ed'to this lever-like structure by suitable means, the barrel or keg upon the some will be elevated and deposit d upon a seat Lil formed by a plurality of suitablerolls and 53, carried by spindlesor shafts h..v ng

the pinions 24;, 124-? and 6, 28?, oi the gearing before referred to; said rolls being driven by such gearing; This lever-like: structure is pivotally connected to the slid ingberrel carrier so as to be raised with it,

and the ends of this lever i structure are suriecefifi sothat asV-the carrier is moved forivard the leverstructure.1s elevated into proper positiontodeliver a keg; or barrel to 46 said first set of rolls and As'is .Well known, all are provided. with bung-holes disposed in one oi the staves oftheseine and; generally disposeo at the center thereof. Arranged to enter l 1 bunghole eta keg when mounted on.

for'delivering hotivater; This nozzle is pivotally mounted at 61 to the barrel CFET'ITLQL' lO, andprov d with :1 spring 62 so that barrel, andzvvhile in this position the. flow of hotavater'is cut ofi. A c soon as the noz- Zle' enters the barrel; however, the latter stops-rotating; fbeing" heldby the nozzle 4 59 which is; automatically lifted-into the barrel by the-action of the'spring 62 itIlClfl)}"S1iCl1" IlSG BL QCtS the operation: of a valve 63,-. pen:

mitting the flow of hot 'WMIEB into said keg 01' barrel. To accomplish this-result," the valve stem;fie isinfengegeinent vvith Zone end 0 M of hot Water for a predetermirec lngth provided with rollers for engagement; with a fired cani guide:55havrngnninclined rolls-52 and l have provided a nozzle (Stio' n. bell-creel: lever the opposite ciul of paid or having a roller which con as with the barrel when the nozzle enters the remainsin this posit-i r receiv ng a iine, which, ct course, may care of differing conditions. hiis ivate may be supplied from any suit-o is source a hoe 6'? being suitably conneed nozzle. ln' addition hot Water upon theheg 'or barrel du ng th rotating upon the rolls is beingdnternelly rinsed, end passing from the i tto the secol d ooiitioii for external We. 112;. This We e; i d charged from a pipe '38 connected by mean" ofa hose with asuitable source of'su, ply.

- tiie it so to I end it hen the end of this part of the "washinr treatment ls reached, the barrel is automaticelly lifted by-the sliding carrier and def livered to a secondposition adiecent a series of brushes 71 for external scruh i the seat for the barrel. in this position being formed by driven rollers 3 which are oi' such character as to posi barrel in contact with said brushes so that it "will be scrubber during the rotation. Thesebrushes Whichhe e been reised' out of the Way vvith the el v .rio'n the slicf carrien' ant-on ally lower with the contact with the barrel when it net-.ches the b1 .shing position simultaneously with the lowering of cs riei' and the barrel may occupy this position tor a predetermined' ngth of time.

brush-es are mounted 0 adapted to slide L L disposed slots groo .LLLL

tower properly contact with .'a:7i J usually employed in the p: elm ale and similar malt liquors. ineans are carried by and movable sliding-ironies side piec vi'hich may be the reception and passage of 79 also mounted on the hen signed to engage "the beads or ends o= keg; or barrel.

The brushes which en tage the bilge ch r berrel'are carried by spring rorto arm 30 so to have a desired "tion-in enga ing" the'l-Ieg :cr berrel an d brushes engagnigihe ends or thebarrel'.

also spring supported in frames 81 tor-1:

the same purpose, and during the brushing action, both upon the bilge as well as the ends of the keg or barrel, wateris discharged thereon from. perforated pipes 82 disposed adjacent the brushes. lhe brushes 71 and 79 1 I different sized kegs as the frames 73 are raised or lowered, thus insuring the accurate relative positioning of the brushes at all times and avoiding the loss of time in bringthe brushes to working position in structiu'es where the brushes have relative move ments in their adjustments.

To raise and lower the brush carrying frames, I pro ide a system of chain gearing. The pinions l? for moving the frames by engagement with the racks 76 are mounted on shafts or spindles 83, carrying chain wl eels Si and Si and disposed between the brush-carrying-frame supports 74: is a frame for the chain. gearing. Atthe top or" this frame a pair of chain wheels 86 and 87 on a s ft or spindle 87. Between one of the chain wheels 84: and the chain wheel 86,

a chain 88 extends. ()n the other side of this frame 85 the operating means for the cha in gearing placed. For this purpose I provide a pair of shafts or spindles 89 and 0, each carrying pinion and chain wheel 91, and M respectively. lhe pinions are in mesh that movement applied to the pinion 91 mounted on the shaft or spindle 89 from a hand wheel 95 would eiiect movement of the pinion and both chain wheels 92 and 9%. Between the chain Wheel 92 and the chain wheel 87 a chain 98 extends and between the chain wheelv 9% and the chain wheel 84;, a chain 97 extends, and bythis me 11?, upor turning the hand wheel 95, the brush frames may be raised and lowered.

The pipes are. carried up and down with them 'll'ic brush frames which are set d1ago nail with respect to the irame of the machine are adjustable up and down by the means just described and they carry the centering means for the kegs so that when the latter are introduced into the machine. the bung-holes of the same will be centrally disposed ready for the reception of the nozzles when brought into registrytherewith. These guiding or ceiitcring means are apertured for the passage of the side brushes designed to act upon the ends of the kegs or arrels, as above described.

After the barrel has been scrubbed externall it is moved by tie carrier to a third 'iositlon for an internal an lication of wator; a discharge nozzle 100 therefor being mounted in a fixed position but carried by a swinging support in substantially the same manner as the nozzle for the hot water, and the barrel being centered over the same, it is rotated by means of suitable rolls 101 until the bung-hole registers with said nozzle, and when the latter enters said opening, the valve being simultaneously opened in the manner before described, a charge of water, preferably cold, will pass into the barrel. from this position, the barrel may be finally transferred by the slidingcarrier, and then removed on a suitable runway (not shown), which receives it when the said sliding carrier is lowered and retracted for engagement with other barrels.

It will be understood, of course, that after the machine is in operation four barrels are being taken care of simultaneously constantly; that is to say, one barrel is being washed internally and externally with the hot water; the second barrel is being externally scrubbed, while the third barrel is beingrinsed, internally with water.

The sliding carrier has a continuous movement; first up, then forward, then down, then rearward between the several sets of rollers, and when the machine is in complete operation, it is moving the four kegs or barrels at one time. i I i The swinging support comprising the pip ing pivotally mounted at Gland carrying the nozzleGO, has a roller disposed below the pivotal point, which roller is in position to engage a stop 111 suitably fixed to the element 55; such engagement shifting the position oi said swinging support so that the nozzle may be removed from the bunghole and occurring whenthe sliding carrier has moved forward to shift the positions of the kegs or barrels. Whenthe sliding car rier has moved back, after the barrel has been deposited upon the second set of drivnicuement of the nozzle eiiected by the ac tion of the stop 111 does not atl'ect the flow of water through the valve.

As noted before, the gear wheel 15 carries the camming elements 16 and 16 011 opposite sides thereof. The cam 16 on the forward side serves to operate the slidin carrier back and forth through the medium of the rack rod 46 and the gear Wheel meshing therewith. To accomplish this, I pivot at 115 a gear segment 116 having a lack surface 117 moshing with a pinion 118 (n a shaft lltlcarrying the gear wheel 18 in engagement with the rack rod 46, and this cam is of such a character that continuous movement of said gear wheel 15 will first cause the rack to move outward, carrying kit with it the slidable barre-l carrier or conveyor while in an elevated position, and the second movement will carry said rack rod inward after the barrel conveyor has been lowered, restoring the latter to the original position.

The opposite side of the gear wheel 15 carries the cam 16 for efiecting the raising and lowering of the barrel conveyer. The

w 7 rock shaft as, mounted in the frame 1 of a tell the machine, has arm 120 with a roller 121 disposed in the groove of this cam, and a pair of arms a2 carrying rollers all upon which the barrel conveyor may move. The rock shaft n is also provided with arms -12 carrying rollers 11. The rock shafts have arms 122 connected by a link 123 so that increment imparted by the cam 16" will be transmitted to both rock shafts simultaneously so to efi'ect uniform movement of the arms as and insure that the barrel conve er will be raised and lowered in horizontal planes. Movement of the roller 121 due to the cam 16 will shift said arms l2 so as to turn the rock shafts in their bearings, raising and lowering the barrel conveyor. hen raised to the full height the conveyer will be moved forward by the pinion l8 engaging the rack l6; said pinion being driven by the gear segment 116, and when lowered the conveyer will be retracted by the same means up on the reverse movement of said gear segment. The roller n on the rack rod is adapted to a guide slot 1241 in a bracket 125 carried by the barrel conveyer, whereby up and down motion of said conveyor is permitted without interference from the rack rod.

The movement of the rock shaft %3 connected to the arm 120 directly controlled by the cam 16" is transmitted to the rock shaft d4: as described, and this latter rock shaft has arms 12'? with guide slots 128 at their outer ends for the passage of rods or arms 129 depending from the brush carrying frame; said rods or arms having col lars 130 whereby when said arms 127 are lifted by the movement of the rock shaft in the elevation of the barrel conveyer, they will engage said collars and lift the brush frames clear of the barrels so that the con veyer with a fresh barrel may be re-positioned with respect to said brushes without contact therewith. This action is preferably assisted by counterbalance weights 131 carried by cords 132 passing over pulleys 133.

A particular feature of my improved machine is the open. frame, and arrangement of the barrel conveyer down between the companion pairs of rollers 52-, 53, 72 and 101, which is particularly desirable be cause of the amount of water passing over the machine during the washing operation wherebythe water is allowed to drain oft nominee with facility without collecting in the machine, and because of the desirability of having room for the barrels and the barrel conveyor to operate in; making the mechanism much simpler and avoiding the annoyance and difhculty of proper handling and replacing worn rollers that would be present were crossing shafts present in themachine.

The operation of my improved machine is as followsz- The barrel carrier receives the barrels from a suitable conveyor which delivers them to the pivotally mounted lifting skid 51 at the receiving end; said. skid being in the lowered position when the carrier is in the lowered position. Prior to the forward movement of the carrier the lat er is raised and with it the skid; then it is moved forward, the skid turning during such movement and when the carrier reaches the limit its forward movement the skid has completed its lifting movement and the barrel 'e thereby is directly over the first set or rolls 52 and The carrier isnow lowered; the barrels droppingonto said rolls, and after the carrier is lowered it is moved back and when fully retracted the skid is in the lowered position ready to receive an other barrel. The barrel on the rolls 52 and 5 3 is turned by them until the bung hole is brought into registry with the nozzle delivering hot water (and in some instances steam); said nozzle being so positioned as to readily enter said bung-hole as the barrel 1 turns. When the nozzle enters the bunghole, it stops the rotation of the barrel. A

fresh barrel is now delivered to the skid; and the same operation is repeated; the carrier in rising picking up the barrel from the rolls 52 and 53 and when it is moved to the limit of its forward movement said barrel has been carried to its position beneath the brushes. In like manner successive barrels are moved forward step-by-step; first to the nozzle 60; then to the brushes; then to the cold water nozzle; and finally to a position where they may be discharged from the carrier.

I claim V 1. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a frame, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush frame guides at the opposite sides of the frame, gravity actuated brush frames slidably mounted upon said guides, bilge brushes carried by said frames and movable through the sliding motions of said frames on converging lines into working position and on diverging lines out of working position, vertically reciprocating members for lifting and retracting said brush frames, and rocking elements actu ated at timed intervals by tne running gear of the machine for raising said vertically reciprocating members and thereafter pen mitting thedescent thereof, said rocking elements having a sliding lost-l notion" connection with saidmembers.

2. In a barrel Washing machine the combination of aframe, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush frame supportsat the opposite sides of the frame, gravity actuated brush frames sliclably mounted upon said frame supports, brushes carried by said frames and movable on converging lines into working position and on divergent'lines out of working position, means actuated by the running gearing of the machine for periodically permitting said brush frames to move by gravity into, working position-andfor subsequently raising and retracting said brush frames, rack and pinion mechanism for adjusting the brush frames to vary their positions upon the frame supports, and

means for operating the rack and pinion mechanisms of the sets of brushes in unison.

3. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a frame, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush frame supports at the opposite sides of the frame, gravity actuated brush frames slidably mounted upon said frame supports, brushes carried by said frames and movable on converging lines into working position and on diverging lines out of working position, vertically movable rods for raising and retracting the brush frames, and vertically movable rocker levers actuated by the running gearing of the machine and having a sliding lost-motion connection with the rods for raising said rods at predetermined intervals and subsequently permitting lowering motion of the rods.

l. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a frame, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush frame supports at the opposite sides of the frame, gravity operated brush frames slidably mounted upon said frame supports, bilge brushes carried by said frames and movable on converging line into working position and on d1verging lines out of working position, longitudinally extending centering devices carried by and movable with said brush frames, end brushes carried by and movable with said centering devices, and a vertically and longitudinally movable barrel conveyer, and means including rocker mechanism actuated by the running gear of the machine for raising and lowering the conveyer and effecting movements of the brush carrier frames at timed intervals.

5. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a frame, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush frame supports at the opposite sides of the frame, gravity actuated brush frames slidably mounted upon said frame supports, brushes carried by said frames and movable on converginglines into working position and on diverging lines out of working position, means actuated by the running gearing of the machine for periodically permitting said brush frames to move by gravity into working position and for subsequently raising and retracting said brush frames, adjusting devices for adjusting the brush frames to vary their positions upon the frame supports, and means for actuating the adjusting devices of the brushes in unison. t

I 6. Ina barrel washing machine, a frame, sets of brushes at each side of the frame movable out of working position onrelatively dii' erging lines and into working position on relatively converging lines, each set of brushes comprising bilge and end brushes yieldingly mounted but having a constantly fixed relationship, centering devices movable with the sets of brushes and carrying said end brushes, and means for adjusting the sets of brushes and centering devices into and out of working positions.

7. in a barrel washing machine, the co1nbination of a frame, guides at oppositesides of the frame, barrel supporting devices upon the frame on opposite sides of the guides, sets of brushes mounted upon the respective guides for adjustment to different positions for different sized barrels, barrel centering devices at opposite sides of the frame and connected with the brushes for movement therewith, said centering devices extending over the frame beyond the guides for coaction with the several barrel supporting devices, a barrel conveyer, means for operating the working parts, and means for adjusting the sets of brushes and centering devices in unison.

8. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a frame, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush frame supports at the opposite sides of the frame, brush frames slidably mounted upon said frame supports, bilge brushes carried by said frames and movable on convergent lines into working position and on divergent lines out of W01- ing position, longitudinally extending centering devices carried by and movable with said brush frames, end brushes carried by and movable with said centering devices, and means for operating said brush frames to project and retract the brushes and centering devices at timed periods.

9. In a barrel washing machine, the combination of a frame, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush frame supports at the opposite sides of the frame, gravity operated brush frames slidably mounted upon said frame supports, bilge brushes carried by said frames and movable on convergent lines into working position and on divergent lines out of working position, longitudinally extending centering devices carried by and movable with said brush frames, end brushes carried by and movable with said centering devices, means operated by the running frames to retract the brushes and centering devices at timed interi 'als, and means operative independently of the first-named means for varying the positions of the frames upon the supports.

10. In a barrel Washing machine, the combination of a frame, an upwardly and forwardly and downwardly and rearWa-rdly movable conveyer, downwardly and inwardly inclined brush'frame supports at the opposite sides of the frame, brush frames slidably mounted upon said frame supports, bilge, brushes carried by said frames and movable on convergent lines into Working position and on divergent lines out of Working position, longitudinally extending centering devices carried by and movable with said brush frames, rotatable barrel supports,

means actuated by the running gear of the machine for longitudinally reciprocating theconveyer, means including rocker illClb- CHARLES B. VAN HORN.

Witnesses: I r

Danny, NORMAN J. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents 'eaeh, by addressing the Commissioner cf Patents Washingten, JD; 63. 

